# NTSB SEA01LA055: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N48651, Waitsburg, WA, February 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 28, 2001, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Waitsburg, WA - Coordinates: 46.208332, -118.275001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2083&lon=-118.2750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Spokane FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51835/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during a pull-up, resulting in an in-flight collision with the lines, loss of control and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing factors were the power lines and the pilot's degraded visual detection due to the background terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot was engaged in a pull-up maneuver while applying fertilizer over a field. Unmarked power lines crossed the north end of the field on an east/west line. The pilot lost sight of the lines against the upsloping background terrain and impacted all three lines. The upper wing was severed from the aircraft and the aircraft subsequently crashed out of control. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2001, approximately 1515 hours Pacific standard time, a Grumman/Schweizer G-164A agricultural aircraft, N48651, registered to Cropland Air Service, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during a collision with power lines and terrain while maneuvering approximately six nautical miles southwest of Waitsburg, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries and a post-crash fire consumed the aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was dispensing fertilizer, was operated under 14CFR137, and originated from a private airstrip approximately two miles east of Waitsburg, Washington, approximately 1445 hours. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he was aware of a set of Bonneville power lines running east-west but lost sight of them at the completion of a northbound swath run. During the pull-up maneuver the aircraft impacted the unmarked wires severing all three cables and separating the aircraft's entire top wing from the fuselage. The aircraft continued to the north impacting hilly terrain, nosing over and then catching fire (refer to photograph 1). The pilot further reported (NTSB Form 6120.1/2 attached) that "I entered the field and began spreading fertilizer and lost sight of the power lines in the hillside behind them. I started pulling out and struck three wires." Terrain at the site gradually sloped uphill from the south to the north, and daylight conditions with no restrictions to visibility existed at the time of the accident. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot was wearing corrective lenses at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48651](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48651-2004-03-31), registration cancelled 2004-03-31, S/N 1685, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1685 - Airframe hours: 4744 - Engines: P&W 1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 2000, 40 hours before - Departed: 2WA9, Waitsburg, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 24, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 1,120 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,120 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010228004069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010228004069A), Feb 28, 2001: Scwzer G164A, Waitsburg, WA, No damage. (-23)A/c collided with power lines during pull up from swath run while spreading fertilizer. Top wing was severed from a/c upon impact with wires. A/c traveled… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.